Szeged Contemporary Dance Company premieres new production Scenes from a Marriage
Szeged Contemporary Dance Company's latest production, Scenes from a Marriage, premiered Friday night at the Kisszínház stage of the Szeged National Theater. Directed and choreographed by Tamás Juronics, the performance explores the emotional landscapes of modern relationships through movement and abstract storytelling.
Inspired by Ingmar Bergman’s 1973 film Scenes from a Marriage, the production borrows its title with a subtle alteration. Rather than a direct adaptation, the piece uses the framework of a fictional film shoot to stage fragmented moments from a marriage. Ten dancers – five men and five women – portray the shifting personalities of a single couple, reflecting the complexities of connection, distance, and inner conflict.
“The theme of marriage is increasingly relevant today,” Tamás Juronics said at a press event ahead of the premiere. “Though it's still considered a foundation of society, we see more and more marriages ending in divorce. This production is a way to explore why that is.”
The performance avoids traditional narrative structure, focusing instead on subtle emotional cues – unspoken desires, simmering tensions, and the claustrophobic repetition of daily life. “Dance gives us the tools to express what words often can’t,” Juronics said. “Our language here is abstract, surreal, and deeply personal.”
Set in a stylized version of the 1960s, the production blends theatrical and cinematic elements. The set features a single green room filled with matching green objects, while the dancers appear in identical retro costumes, emphasizing the unity and fragmentation of character. “We wanted to reflect not only a relationship but also the way people see themselves and each other,” Juronics said.
Company director András Echéry-Pataki noted that the premiere marks one year since the company’s last new production. “Last season we toured with The Nutcracker and Black Swan, both of which saw strong runs in Hungary and abroad. We’re excited to debut something entirely new and emotionally challenging.”
Children also appear in the cast, highlighting the duality of parenthood in marriage – both as a source of joy and a potential source of conflict. “The birth of a child often coincides with relationship breakdowns,” Juronics said. “It’s a difficult truth, but one worth confronting.”
The cast includes Lotár Vincze, Gergely Czár, Csongor Füzesi, Róbert Kiss, and Francesco Totaro, along with Adrienn Nyeste, Letizia Melchiorre, Miriam Munno, Diletta Ranuzzi, and Boglárka Rudisch. Málna Csató and Diletta Savini perform the child roles.
Music was composed by Dávid Mester. Costumes were designed by Bianca Imelda Jeremias, with set and scenic design by Kázmér Tóth. Lighting is by Dániel Szabó, and Brigitta Szokolai served as dramaturge.
Scenes from a Marriage is a co-production with Hungary’s National Dance Theatre and will tour following its Szeged debut.
Photos: Szilvia Molnar / Szegedify
